I just found out I was high bidder on a bird-banding opportunity that was offered as part of a fund-raiser for a local nature center. The banders will come out here on a day of my choosing to band the birds in the yard. I think they're going to be happy when they get here

Anyway, does anyone know if there are minimum conditions that have to be met for banding? In particular, I'm wondering if they can band in winter or if it's too cold then.

It's beginning to look like there might be a finch irruption this winter (we're already seeing more siskins than usual and last time that happened, we were overrun with redpolls later in the season ). Thought that might be an interesting time to band if they can do it when it's cold.

But I have till next Halloween to use the certificate, and spring migration is a tempting time...as is the adolescent season in summer...or even the beginning of fall migration...

Hmmmm...I might need some help deciding. Anyone have any faves?

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Now that sounds like an interesting adventure. What is the purpose of banding them (just for tracking??) and doesn't it kinda scare or stress them like crazy?? It would be neat though for someone like yourself who is so bird oriented to take part in something like this. Sorry I can't say when the best time to do it would be though as I'm a total dodo on birds...

Yep, they actually band them, L4H. It's a tiny little aluminum (I think?) band with ID numbers so if you recover a band you know exactly where the bird was banded, when it was banded, and the general condition of the bird at the time it was banded. If we band our chickadees and nuthatches, I'll easily be able to spot the bands when they come to the feeders, and maybe even read the numbers

Not sure about restrictions on species. It might depend more on what size bands they have handy. I don't think we'll be banding hummers, klm, though we'd have the opportunity if I have them come out in the warm months. I'd be nervous handling such little guys so I'd probably have them string the mist nets outside of the major hummer flight paths.

Brown thrashers can deliver a good peck, too, Carolyn. And we may get jays and woodpeckers as well. But hazel is looking forward to it! (what can I say, I'm weird )

I think I've reconsidered winter banding for irruptive finches. Someone I know from the yukon described the work involved when a large flock of redpolls, for example, hits the nets. We're only going to have a morning, and there will be just 4 of us as far as I know, so I really don't want to have to deal with 50 redpolls...or goldfinches, for that matter

I'm thinking maybe spring migration will be good, instead. It's more compact and easier to time than the fall migration around here and we get a lot of really nice species through here in mid-May (nice temps ).

__________________
"We are--each of us--dying; it's how we live in the meantime that makes the difference."

"It's not what you gather, but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you have lived!"

"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."

Hazel,how exciting,I would think spring would bee the best time.
I do not get half of the different birds you do,but I have more in the spring than right now.
If I spot anything different I grab for the binoculars and one of my bird-books,love them birds